From the Boarding School
Pymble goes to West!
Last weekend I was lucky enough to visit Dubbo for the Boarding Schools’ Expo. The Expos are always a great opportunity to meet present, past and prospective families on their ‘home turf’ and this one was no exception. As has become the tradition, we celebrated together at Press in Dubbo and it is always a treat to chat with our future Boarders over a toasted marshmallow, fresh from the firepit.
My thanks as always, goes to the most dynamic of duos, Mrs Clair Stock and Mrs Jackie Garment, who somehow manage to organise all the goings ons with apparent ease, great warmth and definite expertise.
Trivia Night
One of the highlights of the Year 12 calendar is the Trivia Night. Our Year 12 Boarders make the most of the opportunity to dress up for this special event and our Boarding staff enjoy all the fuss and fun that goes into getting ready. As always, photographer extraordinaire Anne Graham, Head of Year 12 Boarding, captured the spirit perfectly.
Love It – Mrs White
Last weekend was our annual Term 2 Community Weekend. We started on the Friday night with the Years 7, 8 and 9 Social, welcoming our brothers and sisters in Boarding from Knox Grammar School, Shore, Abbotsleigh, Ravenswood, Ascham, Wenona and Loreto Normanhurst. They danced the night away in the Junior School Hall and had a great time. A big thanks to our Year 11 and 12 Big Sisters who made sure everyone was getting involved and having fun.
Saturday night was our annual Just Dance competition. Congratulations to Year 12 who took out Best Year Group, Year 11 who took out Best Dressed and Goodlet who took out Best Spirit House. Special mention to our individual finalists:
- Savannah Lorimer and Rose Purcell from Year 7 (Best duet on the night!)
- Sienna Melton and Phoebe Pockley from Year 8
- Mia Lorimer and Jaidey Samuelsson from Year 9
- Mia Chambers and Sophie Laing from Year 10
- Aspen Moore and Giselle Kawane from Year 11
- Abigail Ballhausen and Isabel Francis from Year 12
Sunday morning started early with a Community Church service with the Pymble and Gordon Uniting Church. The beautiful service was made even more special with the baptism of Mr Father’s son. Many of our Year 11’s have had Mr Fathers as their Compass Teacher since Year 7 and it was a lovely opportunity for them to share in this special service. After the service, the Congregation joined our Boarders for brunch and enjoyed sitting amongst the girls. Many stories were shared, and it was a delight to watch our Boarders engage so beautifully.
After brunch the Boarders headed to the Gym for the Angus Cup Benchball competition. This was a tightly contested event and quite the spectacle to watch. Congratulations to Marden who were crown the overall champions.
This weekend the Boarders will be preparing for Boarders’ Week by decorating their respective houses in pink. We also have a Big Sister/Little Sister movie night on Saturday and a trip to Taronga Zoo on Sunday.
A View from my Window
My name is Abi Barfield and I’m in Year 11 here at Pymble, and I live up in the Central Coast on Macmasters Beach. I only recently moved there in December, but it already feels like home because of the beautiful bushland and beaches, and little cafés scattered throughout. It really feels like your perfect beachside town – kids running around barefoot and sand almost always inside the house.
I live with my mum, dad and little brother Nick (who, at almost 15 years old, isn’t so little anymore – but I’m in denial). In four short weeks, I’ll also be living with a red border collie puppy – her name is still in debate but I’m firmly set on Zalia. We live on a plot of land right next door to the bush with a couple of acres and a pond that likes to be visited by ducks, and from time to time (according to our neighbours) a python.
When I look out my window, I see tall trees and our resident kookaburras sitting on some palm trees. Occasionally, there will also be joeys on the fringes of our land where it meets the bush. Down the road, there is my favourite café called Lulu’s which makes the best ham and cheese toasties in a very cliché boho setting.
When I’m at home, I love how connected I feel to the land and ocean. My favourite trail run goes up and along some clifftops and along a few beaches- it’s one of my highlights whenever I go back. I also love how I can hop on a bike and be at my favourite pizza place on the beach in two minutes. I’m also lucky that Macmasters is a short hour and a halfish drive, so I can go back home on weekends, and now, after renovating our place for the last few months, I’m looking forward to bringing some of the boarders back with me.
Coming to Boarding at Pymble is a new experience, as I’ve only just started this year, but a reminder that I’m so lucky to be at this school. To give you a bit of context, I started at Pymble in Year 8 and started Boarding here this year, so I’ve had the experience of being both a new day girl and Boarder. In a sense, coming back to Boarding is like coming back to a second home, and I’m constantly inspired by the girls around me, reminding me what an incredible opportunity and place Pymble is.
Boarder of the Week
I was so proud to have Grace Peters as our Boarder representative at the Dubbo Boarding Expo. Grace is a fabulous ambassador for Pymble, singing our praises far and wide and making no secret of how much she enjoys her time at Pymble. Grace is an incredible athlete, competing at a National level in throwing yet she still finds time to be a meet all her Boarding responsibilities and help out around the House. Grace is a kind friend and active presence in Goodlet House and well deserving of the title of Boarder of the Week.
Jersey Day Commemoration Chapel Service
Save the Date
Sunday 14 May to Friday 19 May – Boarders’ Week
Thursday 25 May – Pymble in Griffith
Friday 26 and Saturday 27 May – Pymble in Wagga Wagga
Saturday 27 May – Pymble in Young
Tuesday 6 June – Jersey Day Commemoration Chapel Service
Wednesday 7 June – Jersey Day
Friday 9 June – Boarders’ Long Weekend Travel Day
Monday 12 June from 5.00pm – Return to Boarding
Friday 16 June – Boarders’ Parent Group Meeting (online)
Thursday 22 June – Boarders’ End of Term Travel Day
Monday 17 July from 2.00pm – Return to Boarding Start of Term 3
Friday 4 to Sunday 6 August – Boarder Parents Regional Weekend in Mudgee
Carolyn Burgess
Head of Boarding